From Gerald (Gerry) Brown, Media Consultant in Hong Kong, the latest buzz on the Digital Broadcasters market in Asia-Pacific, South Asia and the Middle East covering the latest content and hardware moves in HDTV, 3G, IPTV, Mobile TV, terrestrial radio and TV, cable TV, broadband, satellite broadcast and streaming online.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Prasar Bharati adds DTH Channels

Prasar Bharati to increase DTH channels

The Hindu newspaper on April 13 quoted that Prasar Bharati CEO, K S
Sarma as saying direct-to-home (DTH) channels will be increased to 51
in 2006-07 from the current 33 with a special prompotional effort to
increase viewership to the channels at the grass root level.

Other points reported:

- 10 million DTH boxes had been sold up to February 2006.

- K V Rainbow FM channel will start in two months time

- Doordarshan (DD) has linked with ACL Wireless Limited to launch
both SMS and IVR-based interactive service over the same short code
676733. The SMS-based news service was in addition to the various
other programmes like opinion polls, feedback that have already been
enabled via ACL's India6767 platform.

ACL, a leading developer and provider of cutting-edge wireless
solutions for consumers and enterprises, won the contract for a
period of three years under which it will design, instal and manage
the services which will available to more than 423 million DD viewers
across the country who tune into DD News, DD National, DD Bharati and
DD Sports channels.